Humanist Watch Ghana

We members of the Humanist Water Ghana (HUWAGHA) believes water is the most essential element of life for all beings, and perhaps because of this, there has always been a special social and spiritual bond between the human being and water. Water is life itself.

In view of this, we are supporting the call by National Coalition Against Privatization of Water (NCAP) for the cancellation of the Management Contract between Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL) and Ghana Water Company Limited signed on the 6th June 2006.

As a common resource, water must be handled through the democratic participation of the communities, and with the interest of the whole population first. Water is a basic right and as such it must be granted to all human beings and living species, and made secure for future generations.
We also agree with NCAP that ever since AVRL took of GWCL consumers have not seen any improvement in performance. Water rationing and cuts offs have been rampant, the situation has been serious in big cities; Accra, Kumasi, Cape Coast, Koforidua, Ho, Tamale etc.

In February 2007, Humanist Watch Ghana, (HUWAGHA) in collaboration with Kotobabi Front Association, (KFA) made provision of 2000 gallons capacity poly tank for the people of Kotobabi for the frequent water supply by water tanker, because the people of Kotobabi has not seen water in their homes since AVRL took over the management of GWCL.

This agenda of the Government to privatize Ghana’s water is another attempted takeover of the water industry by the World Bank and its corporate allies against the will of the people. The takeover comes with a lot of conditions which will only increase the poverty of our country.
We from HUMANIST WATCH GHANA are determined to keep Ghana’s water public, to defend Ghana’s water as a human right, untouchable by corporate exploitation.

What we propose as Humanists

1. Water belongs to all people and everyone has the right to it. Civil Society, Institutions, Socio Political and Volunteer organizations must intervene in order to stop the management contract between Aqua Vitens Rand (AVRL) and the Ghana Water Company Limited; Government of Ghana from privatizing our water.

2. Water and the services connected to it must be excluded from WTO agenda because water is not merchandise. That is water is not a common commodity to be bought and sold in the market place as an economic good.

3. Public management of water services can be entrusted to local communities, District Assemblies and Metropolitan Authorities. Community participation in the management of water system is Valid.

4. Adequate investments into water treatment facilities in Ghana by Government, should help reduce waste of water in the system

The only moral form of struggle is the non violent way. We are joining the campaign by National Coalition Against Privatization of Water for social justice in the water sector and will be participating in the picketing of the offices of Aqua Vitens Rand offices on the 11th March 2008.

We, members of Humanist Watch Ghana (HUWAGHA), have been working around the topic of non violence for several years and we are opposing the coming visit of President Bush and his wife to Ghana and other African countries.

According to the statement of the White House the visits agenda is to “review firsthand the significant progress since his last visit in 2003 in efforts to increase economic development and fight HIV/AIDS, malaria, and other treatable diseases, as a result of the United States robust programs in these areas” and meet different Presidents from African countries, including President John A. Kufuor, to discuss how the United States can continue to partner with African countries to support continued democratic reform, respect for human rights, free trade, open investment regimes, and economic opportunity across the continent.

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The continuing situation of social disturbance in Kenya is extremely worrying for humanists both within Kenya and around the world. A situation that has, in reality, been brewing ever since independence is now coming to a head. We are faced with the situation where the people of Kenya have been manipulated into the false game of tribe vs. tribe. The friends of the Kikuyus are supposedly on one side with the friends of the Luos supposedly on the other side.

But Humanists see this game for what it really is: a game of two men struggling for their own personal power. Two men who will stop at nothing to reach the top; from where they have access to all the contracts being signed; from where they can control where the aid goes and who can take the biggest percentage for their own pocket.

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Watch our video for the International Day of Non-Violence on 2nd October

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The “Campaign for non-violence and fight against malaria” is a project launched by the Humanist Movement in Ghana. The objective is to contribute significantly to the reduction of malaria in the population by education, common actions for prevention and proper and massive use of mosquito nets (ITN’s). Furthermore the activities includes the aim to overcome widespread violence by working together to reduce the social and personal factors which cause violence among the people. The campaign itself is carried out with a minimal of economical resources, but with the effort of the people who learn to organise themselves and join hands to better the health situation in there family and there neighbourhood. All the involved people are working on a voluntary base and on no level anyone will get paid. We strongly believe that the only solution today is that people organise and take there destiny in there own hands.
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Water is the most essential element of life for all beings, and perhaps because of this, there has always been a special social and spiritual bond between the human being and water. Water is life itself. As a common resource, water must be handled through the democratic participation of the communities, and with the interest of the whole population first. Water is a basic right and as such it must be granted to all human beings and living species, and made secure for future generations.
Continue Reading »